I ride an FXDBI or Street bob, yesterday my sprocket bolts backed out and two were sheared before it locked the wheel up. Luckily I was at a light and was just rolling forward. Two years ago it happened for the first time at 75 mph with my wife on the back and all the bolts sheared off and I lost thrust (Thank God that it didn't lock up). Has anyone had this happen to them and have you ever figured out why (other than the obvious, no lock tight).

 

Can't speak to bolts backing out except someone didn't use lock tight...bolts shearing off though is pretty common when they are reused instead of replaced.

 

Yes, it happened to my last bike, I carry a 5/8 wrench in my toolbag since then, no matter how tight they are, even you use red locktite, still come loose.
READ MY THREAD HERE

 

Lots has been written about this issue. If you search "sheared pulley bolts", you'll have plenty of discussion to read;

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=12586220

I think it's important for all of us to be edumucated about this one. Glad you didn't get locked up, wolfsden.

 

I am starting to lose count of the number of people that have had this happen to them.

Kinda gives one a minor permanent pucker factor just waitin' for it to happen!

 

+1 on the search, It happened to me and MANY others.

 

First I thought it was the factory threads, I redid them with helicoil, supposed to be much stronger than stock but its not, still have to tighten up the bolts once in a while. My closest explanation would be coarse thread pitch, if I were the designer, I would make them fine threads instead, lot more strength. Live with it!

 

Wow I can't beleive this is that common. I think that what 128auto said might help but I guess I am just going to have to treat this like an aircraft and do a preflight check every few rides to make sure this doesn't kill me.

Thanks guys

 

Ya, preflight check is always a good idea.

 

Yeah That!

Plus, I took a sharpie and put a mark on each of the bolt heads that extends onto the pulley. That way I can see at a glance if they are moving. Now if they shear off, that's a different story. I won't see that one coming...

One other thing, you can call me crazy but once I have loctited and torqued the bolts, I don't go back and keep checking them. I feel that once the loctite has cured, I don't want to "break" that seal. That seems to make logic in my mind. Oh well... Cheers.